A Shontelle Smith-inspired Dunedin Technical stunned Forrest Hill-Milford United 4-2 at QBE Stadium on September 9 to win their maiden NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup, the first time in the twenty-five year history of the competition that a team from the country's southernmost federation has won the trophy.

"The Swans" enjoyed the better of the first five minutes, but that was as good as it got for Ben Bate's charges, who very soon found themselves under the cosh from a Dunedin side which took full advantage of the raft of mistakes United made throughout proceedings, and punished them mercilessly.

Their first threat came from Mikayla Gray, who wriggled through four challenges before finally being thwarted by the combination of Hannah Mackay-Wright and Chloe Wilson.

Two of the youngest teams to ever meet in the history of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup Final went all the way to penalties at QBE Stadium on September 9, with 2016 winners Birkenhead United making it two triumphs in the competition by edging Western Suburbs 5-4 on spot-kicks, after the teams had concluded the match with the score locked at 1-1.

United began brightly, and were rewarded with the opening goal just six minutes into play. Lachie McIsaac's free-kick picked out the head of Alec Solomons, who guided the ball down into the stride of Alex Connor-McClean, ghosting in on the far post as Suburbs' defenders stood and watched.

The price they paid for doing so was celebrated heartily by Birkenhead's fans, whose presence made the Cup Final - the atmosphere they created suggested there were more than 3,364 fans present on the day.

Everything's on the line in next Sunday's final round of National Women's League action, after a shock defeat for reigning champions Northern Football on November 20 threw the play-off places wide open.

The title-holders were overturned 2-1 by Capital Football, who in winning swept to the top of the table and booked themselves a play-off spot, even though they'll be looking on from the sidelines next weekend.

National Women's League match report - Waikato-Bay of Plenty v. Canterbury United Pride

Canterbury Hit WaiBOP's Play-Off Hopes For SixStory by Jeremy Ruane

Canterbury United Pride dealt Waikato-Bay of Plenty's National Women's League play-off hopes a serious blow at Cambridge's John Kerkhof Park on November 20, pummelling the locals 6-1, all but securing their own play-off spot in the process.

The visitors were in the zone from the very first whistle, Lily Bray's strong driving run in the third element, supplemented by a one-two with Macey Fraser, allowing the midfielder to get to the by-line, from where she picked out Annalie Longo, whose smart turn unhinged the defence and invited the Football Fern to unleash a fifteen yard drive which arrowed a foot past the post.

Eastern Suburbs have taken over at the top of the Stirling Sports Premiership after fifth round action produced a couple of surprise results, and a first competition win for Tasman United.

"The Lilywhites" put Southern United to the sword at Bill McKinlay Park, prevailing 4-0 after Armin Pasagic's early penalty found the net, unlike that taken by Southern's Danny Ledwith soon afterwards, which was saved by Silvio Rodic.

Canterbury United playmaker Aaron Clapham marked his 100th appearance for the club in style at Forsyth Barr Stadium on October 30, scoring a hat-trick to lead his side to a 3-1 win over Southern United in their Stirling Sports Premiership derby encounter.

Clapham was afforded an early chance to open his account when Stephen Last felled Andre de Jong inside the penalty area just two minutes into the contest. Needless to say, it was 1-0 very shortly afterwards from the twelve yard mark, with Liam Little sent the wrong way.

Brisbane Roar brought an end to Sydney FC's winning streak in the Hyundai A-League on the penultimate weekend in November, but the league leaders retained their six-point advantage at the top of the table, despite being held to a 1-1 draw.

Sydney should have had the points well and truly wrapped up before half-time in front of 17,322 fans at Suncorp Stadium, but squandered numerous chances other than that taken by Josh Brilliante thirteen minutes into the contest.

Despite missing half their regular starting eleven due to international commitments, Wellington Phoenix scored a courageous 2-0 win over Central Coast Mariners at Canberra's GIO Stadium on November 12 to climb to sixth place on the Hyundai A-League ladder.

A lively opening quarter-hour saw both teams have chances to open the scoring inside the first three minutes. Matthew Ridenton's mis-timed clearance went straight to Blake Powell, who threaded a pass through to Fabio Ferreira which allowed the speedster to hit a teasing cross-shot just past Lewis Italiano's far post, much to the 'keeper's relief.

The Football Ferns' hopes of securing a second successive quarter-final berth at the Olympic Women's Football Tournament were dashed by France in the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador on August 9, the victors playing well within themselves in prevailing by a solid 3-0 scoreline.

The first half-hour of play was very staid - it was almost as if both teams were looking to playing to not lose, with a scoreless draw a result which would serve the purposes of both teams where quarter-finals progression was concerned, no matter what happened in other matches.

"Les Bleues" were the more threatening side during this period, but the white-clad French were well contained by New Zealand's rearguard, who allowed just one shot worthy of the name in this period, a twenty yard volley from Jessica Houara in the 27th minute, which sailed past the post after Louisa Cadamuro's corner had been cleared to the fullback.

New Zealand's All Whites produced a below-par performance as they held New Caledonia to a 0-0 draw at the Stade Yoshida in Kone on November 15, a result which leaves Anthony Hudson's side firmly in control of an Oceania World Cup qualifying group which also contains Fiji.

Needing to win to keep their own World Cup prospects alive, the New Caledonians set about doing so initially via the raids of Jarys Mene and captain Bertrand Kai, but it was the black-clad All Whites who produced the first goalscoring opportunity of the match, in the thirteenth minute.

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